Fall in zone 3bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 55703 (St. Louis County, MN)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Cook 8NE, MN (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)138 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone3b-35 to -30°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 55703, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 55703 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 29 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 17 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 26 | Sep 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 12 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 3 | Oct 11 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 55703
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 1). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 17–31 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 3–17 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 3–17 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 17–31 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 17–31 | Apr 21–May 12 (transplant) Apr 14–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–May 12 (transplant) Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 3–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 3–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 19 (transplant) Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 7–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 14–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 14–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 14–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 14–21 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 14–21 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 17–Mar 3 | May 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Cook 8NE, MN (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00211771), elevation 1,355 ft, 15.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celina 2E, MN | 16 mi | Jun 1 | Sep 15 |
| Eveleth Wwtp, MN | 21 mi | May 12 | Oct 1 |
| Orr 3E, MN | 22 mi | Jun 2 | Sep 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 55703
When is the last frost in 55703?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 55703 is May 12. For a more cautious planting date, use May 29, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 55703?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 17.
What hardiness zone is 55703?
ZIP 55703 is in USDA zone 3b (-35 to -30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 55703 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
55710 Mountain Iron 55723 Cook 55768 Mountain Iron 55719 Chisholm 55781 55758 Kinney 55792 Virginia 55713 Buhl
Other ZIP codes in St. Louis County
55602 55702 55705 55706 55708 55710 55711 55713 55717 55719 55723 55724 55725 55732 55734 55736 55738 55741 55746 55750 55751 55758 55763 55765 All St. Louis County frost dates · Minnesota frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.